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Skeptoid

Skeptoid #1028: Manipulative Advertising

Skeptoid

Brian Dunning

History, Skeptic, Social Sciences, Conspiracy Theories, Urban Legends, Skepticism, Paranormal, Science

4.63K Ratings

🗓️ 17 February 2026

⏱️ 21 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Advertising wants your attention, not your soul; and it’s not nearly as good at getting either as you might think.

Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

It's time to expose advertising and all its nefarious tricks for making you spend, spend,

0:09.0

spend on things you don't need and don't even want.

0:12.0

As a mostly retired advertising practitioner with nearly 50 years on the inside,

0:18.0

I'm here to spill the beans. And in our extended content for premium members,

0:25.1

I'll share a few things that measured advertising reveals about you and me. That's today on Skeptoid.

0:37.0

A quick reminder for everyone.

0:41.0

You're listening to Skeptoid, revealing the true science and true history behind urban

0:45.6

legends every week since 2006, with now over a thousand episodes.

0:52.7

It's the consistency of short, single-subject programs that have kept so many of you listening

0:58.1

for 19 years.

1:00.9

But occasionally, some of you have asked for a little bit more.

1:04.7

And so, we're now offering it.

1:06.9

If you become a premium member supporting the show with a monthly micropayment of as little as $5,

1:12.6

you get more skeptoid.

1:14.6

The premium version of the show is not only ad-free, it has extended content.

1:20.6

The episodes are a few minutes longer.

1:23.6

We get rid of the ads, and replace them with more Skeptoid.

1:28.2

The extended premium show available now.

1:31.7

Come to Skeptoid.com and click Go Premium.

1:40.9

You're listening to Skeptoid.

1:43.6

I'm Steve Kuno for Skeptoid.com.

1:48.0

Manipulative Advertising

...

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